HMC Randy Rhoe, USN

They say that some people come into your life for seasons and some people come into your life for reasons. Randy Rhoe was definitely in my life for a reason. I met Randy in the early months of 1998. I just finished my Hospital Corpsman training in Great Lakes, IL and I was stationed at a small clinic in the suburbs of Atlanta, Ga. From the first time I met Randy I knew he was a person that he was a grand person. Not only was he grand in size (he stands 6'7" tall) but he was grand in personality, loyalty and heart. Randy and I became really close friends through those couple of years we were both stationed in Atlanta. We eventually became roommates. We were college classmates...well at least for that one introduction to psych class we took together at Chattahoochie Technical Community College. We were travel buddies. We shared holidays together.  We had a lot of good memories together and a few bad ones too. I was in his wedding and he was in mine. When I think of Randy, I think of someone who was determined to live his life fully. His sense of humor was unmatched. But I think the reason Randy was in my life is to remind me that life is meant to be lived and is too short. His life reminds me to hold those that I love closely and cherish these moments that we have on earth. Randy, may you rest in peace. You will always be remembered for your friendship and wonderful spirit.

Guam

I had a few days to spend on the Island of Guam. The pictures below are the result of combining work with play. You get me visiting the tourist spots in my work clothes.... They wanted me to get on this ox with my dress on. I declined and opted to just stand next to the ox. This spot is one of the places where explorer Magellan stopped. The view was amazing and has become a focal point for tourists.

Mahalo Oahu!!!

Reggie and Elyce in Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

Space available travel (aka Space-A) with the Air Mobility Command (AMC but pronounced "Mac"?) is one of the perks of being affiliated with the military. It allows you to travel wherever the military happens to be traveling to for free as long as there is 'space available'. Well, Elyce was scheduled to travel to Guam and Hawaii for work and I decided that I would take some time off as well so that we could mix in a little vacation in between her work assignments. The plan was for me to meet her in Hawaii and we would vacation over the weekend and then she could do her work with the USO later in the week. My plan was to try and save a few bucks by taking a Space-A flight to Hickam Air Force Base which is on Oahu, just a few miles west of Honolulu. Well, apparently I wasn't the only one. When I got to the terminal there must have been over a hundred people trying to get on this one flight that had 10 available seats!

The little things....

While hanging out in the Tokyo airport, Reggie indulges in a fudge sundae.

He was so excited about this guilty pleasure. It's the little things like ice cream and cake that makes him so happy!

Thai in the Sky!

The view from Thai in the Sky

Elyce and I have heard about this Thai restaurant even before we got on the island. In Okinawa the foreigners make up their own names to places. The real name of this place is Cafe Caracuma, but everyone knows it as "Thai in the Sky". It's named so because of the great view that it has since it sits atop a mountain. Elyce and I probably would've never gotten there ourselves, but luckily we drove out there with our friends Dago and Michelle. We ate like kings. It probably had some of the best PadThai that we've ever had. Definitely a must see, if you can find your way there...

Elyce taking in the view.

View from our roof!

We live on the island of Okinawa and in an area very close to the Sunabe seawall. We have a great view of the city from our roof but we rarely go up there. I had to go up there recently to replace our satellite dish that was blown from a pretty bad typhoon. Elyce complained about AFN so much until it was gone for a few days (hee hee hee). But whenever I do go up there I take a few moments just to take in the neighborhood.The photos below were taken with the iPhone and the Hipstamatic app.

Pizza in the Sky!!

One of the more famous restaurants here in Okinawa is "Pizza in the Sky". You'll be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't heard of this place. We went here after a day at the aquarium as most people do. This restaurant is about an hour north of where we live and is way up on the side of a mountain. Hence the name "Pizza in the Sky"(aka Cafe Kajinho). The view from this place is amazing,especially at sunset. The menu is printed on small accordion fans. They don't have many options for your pizza though. It's pretty much just with or without pepporoni and corn. We opted to have it with both. They have the best pizza that we've had in Okinawa so far. As the sun sets, the waiters roll out these straw screens to block the sun. It added a nice touch to the outdoor seating. While we there this little boy kept checking Elyce out, so she made me take a picture of him in his little chair!  Check out the pics!